As evening fell, a flash of lightning tore across the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that startled Leng Ruo Li, filling her with a sense of unease.
Moments before, Leng Ruo Li had been sitting on a chaise lounge in her room, engrossed in a medical book, while Jun Mo Han sat at the table, making arrangements for the Empress Dowager's birthday.
Noticing Leng Ruo Li startled by the thunder, Jun Mo Han immediately walked over and embraced her.
"Are you alright, Li'er?" Jun Mo Han asked with concern.
"I'm fine. I just have this feeling of unease tonight," Leng Ruo Li said, her delicate brows furrowed as she gently touched her chest.
Jun Mo Han held Leng Ruo Li, patting her shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't be scared, I'm here," Jun Mo Han said, his eyes filled with affectionate comfort.
"Mm, it's nothing. Perhaps I'm overthinking. You don't need to worry, go back to your work."
Leng Ruo Li smiled sweetly.
"Alright. Call me if you need anything," Jun Mo Han instructed her.
Leng Ruo Li nodded lightly with a smile.
Then, Jun Mo Han returned to the table to continue planning the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration.
This birthday banquet for the Empress Dowager was not only a celebration of her birthday but also attended by many foreign envoys. Therefore, not a single detail could go wrong.
...
On the road back to the capital, the night was as dark as ink, and a torrential downpour raged.
Two handsome men, one clad in purple robes and the other in ink-colored attire, each holding a long sword and riding fine horses, were followed by dozens of guards in black, galloping through the pouring rain.
"Prince An, Prince Ji, this rain is too heavy. There's an inn ahead, Qingyun Inn. Let's stop there for the night and head back to the capital early tomorrow morning," a guard behind Prince An and Prince Ji suggested.
"Yes, Fifth Brother. The rain is too heavy, and the road is full of mud and puddles. It's difficult for us to ride our horses. Why don't we rest at the inn ahead for a night and then travel back to the capital tomorrow? We'll be fine," Prince Ji also urged Prince An.
Prince An pondered for a few seconds and agreed to Prince Ji's suggestion. Then, the two brothers led a group of guards to halt their horses outside Qingyun Inn. The group dismounted and quickly walked towards the inn's entrance.
At this moment, Yan Yu and Lu Li Luo were distressed about finding Old Man Lu.
Old Man Lu had been missing for three or four days, and they had searched every place he might have gone, but still, there was no sign of him. Later, they heard from Uncle Li, who transported goods from the neighboring village to the capital, that he had encountered Old Man Lu in the capital. It was then that Yan Yu and Lu Li Luo realized Old Man Lu had left Qingyun County for the capital.
However, Old Man Lu was unfamiliar with the capital, had no money, and was fond of drinking. If he went to the capital, wouldn't he starve to death on the streets?
Lu Li Luo thought anxiously.
Just then, a deep, husky, and pleasant voice drifted in from the inn's entrance.
"Two young ladies, we need accommodation. Do you have any vacancies?"
Prince An's words immediately brought Yan Yu and Lu Li Luo back to their senses.
They looked up towards the entrance. Upon seeing the countenances of Prince An and Prince Ji, they were instantly stunned.
"Oh my heavens!"
These two men were incredibly handsome, their charm on par with Prince Leng's. Moreover, their features bore a striking resemblance to Prince Leng.
However, at this moment, they were both drenched like drowned rats.
"Young ladies, are there any rooms left at the inn?" Prince An asked gently.
"Yes, how many rooms do you require?" Yan Yu replied after a brief pause.
"We need six superior rooms, as well as some hot water and food. Please help me prepare them," Prince An said, his obsidian-like eyes radiating a soft glow as he looked at Yan Yu. His voice was so pleasant it could make ears fall in love.
"Alright, Li Luo, take them to the rooms on the second floor. I'll go to the kitchen to instruct the chefs to prepare hot water and some food to be delivered to their rooms," Yan Yu instructed Lu Li Luo.
"Yes, Sister."
With that, Lu Li Luo led Prince An and Prince Ji and their group towards the guest rooms on the second floor.
"It's raining heavily outside tonight, and not many people are staying at our inn. We have plenty of rooms. You can choose whichever room you like," Lu Li Luo said with a smile.
"Thank you, young lady!" Prince An and Prince Ji replied politely.
"It's alright. Your clothes are soaked from the rain. You should go in and change into dry clothes quickly," Lu Li Luo gestured to them and said with a shallow smile.
"Then we'll trouble you, young lady." Prince An finished speaking and had everyone enter their respective rooms.
Afterward, Lu Li Luo quickly went downstairs to help in the kitchen.
An hour later, Yan Yu had the kitchen staff deliver hot water and meals to every occupied room on the second floor.
After Prince An and Prince Ji had bathed and eaten, Yan Yu and Lu Li Luo closed up and went to rest.
Outside Qingyun Inn, the heavy rain finally stopped after an hour, but a dangerous aura enveloped the area around the inn.
"Boss, your subordinate has confirmed that Prince An and Prince Ji have entered Qingyun Inn with their guards to rest," a masked man in black reported to the leader of the black-clad group.
"Good. We will make our move tonight at Qingyun Inn. As long as they haven't reached the capital, we have a chance to kill Prince An and Prince Ji and fulfill our master's orders."
As the leading masked man spoke, a fierce glint flickered within his eyes.
"Yes! We will all listen to the boss! We will strive to complete the mission assigned by our master," over thirty masked men said respectfully, placing one hand on their swords.
"Alright, then let's go to Qingyun Inn now. Hahaha…"
After the leading masked man finished speaking, he led his men and charged into the dark night.
Inside Qingyun Inn, Yan Yu and Lu Li, along with Prince An and Prince Ji, had just settled into their beds.
On the first floor of the inn, a group of men in black used large knives to pry open the inn's main door and stealthily entered. They moved quickly up the stairs and crept onto the second-floor corridor.
Yan Yu and Lu Li Luo, sleeping on the first floor, heard the sounds of hurried footsteps in the corridor on the second floor. Lu Li Luo was about to get out of bed to investigate when Yan Yu grabbed her mouth.
"Don't make a sound!" Yan Yu whispered urgently.
"Yan Yu, what's happening outside?" Lu Li Luo asked, not yet comprehending.
"Perhaps the two young gentlemen staying on the second floor are being targeted for assassination," Yan Yu explained calmly.
"Heavens! What is the identity of those two young gentlemen that they are being assassinated?" Lu Li Luo exclaimed in shock.
"We shouldn't bother with other people's affairs. We should hide quickly," Yan Yu said anxiously, as the footsteps were also getting closer to Yan Yu and Lu Li Luo's room.